Is the paneer in your kitchen an analogue product? Doctor explains how customers can stay safe

Everyone knows that curd, butter, and paneer are dairy products. But what if 'dairy products' are made without milk? Though it may sound like a joke, this is becoming widespread in the country. Following reports of fake products being used in prominent hotels and restaurants, Zomato recently announced that they will not deliver such food items. This has brought analogue dairy products or artificial dairy products back into discussion regarding kitchen matters after a break.

What are analogue milk products
Analogue products, which resemble normal dairy products like paneer, are made without using real milk or milk fat, either fully or partially. Instead, they add plant-based oils, starch, protein, and flavour enhancers. When you see and eat them, they feel like real butter or paneer. But they won't contain even a trace of milk!

Palm oil, soy protein, artificial flavours, and emulsifiers are also used to create artificial 'milk fat'. They are made to look like paneer by adding vegetable oil and starch. For cheese used in pizzas and burgers, analogue cheese is obtained by adding vanaspati and emulsifiers. Analogue butter is made using vegetable fat. Their very low price and long shelf life are what attract hotel owners. Analogue products are not illegal, but faking them as real milk products is.

Low protein, high processed fats
Those who consume fake dairy products are at risk of serious health problems. This is because they are low in protein and high in processed fats. Such products cannot provide the essential vitamins and minerals the body needs. When vanaspati and other processed oils are heated, they produce high levels of trans fat. This increases bad cholesterol in the blood. The World Journal of Cardiology states that the palm oil added to them can cause heart disease and high blood pressure due to high sodium. Due to high calories and fat, they can lead to obesity and diabetes. Analogue dairy products do not provide any of the nutritional benefits obtained from real milk.

The ban
The Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) has banned the sale of analogue paneer in states like Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. This action followed findings that such paneer is made using milk powder, vegetable oil, starch, and emulsifiers and is sold to customers faking them as real paneer or other milk products. 

How to identify analogue products?
The food safety department has issued strict instructions that the ingredients listed on food packaging must be accurately recorded, so that customers can avoid analogue products if needed. Kochi Lakeshore Hospital's Chief Dietitian, Dr Manju George, says that although it is difficult to distinguish between normal paneer and artificial paneer at first glance, fake products can be identified by paying attention to the information on the outside of the package.

"Such artificial products are cheating the consumer. Analogue paneer has none of the benefits of paneer. It can cause lifestyle diseases, obesity, and many other illnesses. It is not possible to identify good and bad products always by examining their composition. Regardless, companies must accurately record what has been added to the foods on the packet label. Consumers should also switch to buying products after properly reading the labels. The food safety department should also intensify inspections." 

How to purchase paneer from shops
a) Check the ingredients list on the cover and carefully read and understand information such as the type of fat used, the presence of vegetable oil, and the amount of fat.
b) Look to see if labels mention the word 'analogue'. According to FSSAI rules, packets of artificially made paneer must be labelled with 'analogue paneer' or 'Not a Dairy Product'. Real paneer has milk/milk solids as the main ingredient. However, analogue paneer contains hydrogenated vegetable oil, palm oil, and starch. 

Identifying fake paneer at home
You can identify artificial dairy products at home too, using some easy methods:
a) Hot water test:
Boil a small piece of paneer in hot water for about ten minutes. After it cools down, if the paneer piece becomes softer and the water turns slightly milky, it is real paneer. However, if it is artificial paneer, it will dissolve in water, and the pieces will feel slippery. You can also see oil floating on the surface.

b) Iodine test:
Boil a small piece of paneer in water. After it cools down, add a few drops of iodine tincture. If the colour of the paneer turns blue, it can be understood that starch (maida/corn flour) has been added to it.
The FSSAI suggests that such tests are not conclusive and that suspected fake products should be sent for testing.